If your soil truly won't allow sufficient percolation for average rainfalls,
changing the tilth within the first few inches of depth really won't affect
much... plus without sufficient vegatative cover your newly amended soil
will just wash away on top of the clay layer.

You should try to get a soil test as soon as possible in order to find out
what's going on... perhaps even a boring.

A Landscape Architect or other qualified professional can advise you on
changes to the site elevations to promote positive flow away from your house
and the elimination of standing pools of water.



Dave

"Joseph Chong" wrote in message
news:jiFTb.387925$X%5.57998@pd7tw2no...
What are some good web sites etc... for drainage of yards and gardens. In
Vancouver BC it is so wet all winter my lawn and garden of my 'new' house
(new to us, it is 70 years old and the garden was negelcted the past ten
years easy) is a lake after a rain. I think the soil is very compacted and
I
will spike it in the spring. The soil is very thick and quite clay-like. I
tried to dig a dry well and that didn't go over well when it rained for a
week before I could get any gravel to fill it, it mike make nice pond
now.... I will fill it when the rains stop.
Any ideas about soil admendments to improve drainage? Sand? Gypsum?
I don't want to do drainage tile unless it is absolutley necessary.

jc